I Dumped My Ungrateful Husband and Stepson

The day my son gained the lifetime achievement award in research, I died alone on the street.

On stage, he thanked his father, a professor, and his biological mother, who had just returned from abroad. He even thanked the nanny at home.

But he left me out, his foster mother who had raised him.

My husband, Charles Zimmer, learned about my death.

He immediately disassociated himself from me.

“We’ve long separated. I’ve got nothing to do with her.”

I had worked hard to give them a decent life, but they regarded me as a stain that they could never remove.

When I opened my eyes again, I returned to the time of my life when my destiny changed.

Holding the college admission letter, Charles smiled at me and said, “Yes, I’m divorced. But we can live in the city together if you marry me. I’ll let you discipline the kid if he makes any mistakes. I won’t complain about you.”

During my previous life, he had me fooled by false promises. I naively thought that it would be easy to be a stepmother.

I helped him care for his son and worked hard to support the family.

In the end, they conspired with each other to drive me out and leave me penniless.

It was because Charles’ ex-wife, who had abandoned them when he was poor, wanted to come home and remarry him.

Since I had gained a second chance, I planned to dump such an ungrateful husband and son.

I tilted my head up and gazed into Charles Zimmer’s eyes as he plotted schemes against me.

In the other timeline, Charles and Jacob Zimmer had abandoned me and humiliated me. I had felt so much resentment for that.

I did not nod shyly as I did the last time. Instead, I sneered.

“I don’t intend to cling to someone beyond my station. I can’t be a townsperson either, let alone be someone’s stepmom. I’m not worthy of it.”

As if someone had rained on his parade, Charles instantly stopped smiling. I had always obeyed him, and he probably never anticipated such words from me.

He patiently cleared his throat and acted like a superior college student again.

“Have you thought it through, Sophia? You’ll be a townsperson if you move to North City with me. I’m going to college, so I’ll have a prosperous future. Of course, you won’t end up suffering with me.”

I could not stop sneering inwardly.

“Stop making yourself sound so great. You just want a free servant to serve you and your kid. That way, you can go to college at ease. Isn’t that right?”

The last time, I moved to North City with him and worked two jobs.

In the morning, I washed dishes at a restaurant. At night, I worked odd jobs at a textile factory.

I spent all the money I earned on them, buying meat and cooking soup for them.

On the other hand, I only survived on some very bland oatmeal daily. Consequently, I grew scrawny.

Charles told me he felt bad for me and promised that things would get better after he graduated.

Although the college paid him ten dollars every month as a subsidy, he never spared me a penny.

Instead, he sent ten dollars to Ruby Little, his ex-wife, every month.

As for the remaining two dollars, he kept them for himself and his son for additional luxuries.

I only learned about these incidents much later. On top of that, Jacob had spilled the beans in the form of a passing joke.

Charles did not appreciate being called out. His face turned scarlet.

“Stop flattering yourself, Sophia Clark! I can find someone else if you don’t want to! Don’t regret this!”

I could not bother to look at him. He could give that chance to anybody except me.

“Save that for your ex-wife.”

After that, I turned and left resolutely. Since I had a second chance, I would never sacrifice myself for them again. I wanted to live for myself.

When I got home, my aunt gripped me anxiously. “Sophia, where did you go? Did you go to Charles? Silly girl, you can’t be a stepmom even if Charles is great. His son is already eight years old. You won’t win him over.”

I was overwhelmed to see my aunt, who was still alive. I threw myself into her arms and burst into tears.

I had been an orphan from a young age. My uncle and aunt raised me. On top of that, my aunt regarded me as her biological daughter.